NAS Corpus Christi, Texas
Ft. Sam Houston, Texas
Ft. Lewis, Washington
Ft. Sheridan, Illinois
Camp Pendleton, California
Sharp Army Depot, California
Ft. Ord, California
The Presidio, California
Ft. Eustis, Virginia
Castle AFB, California
Mather AFB, California
McClellan AFB, California
McChord AFB, Washington
Randolph AFB, Texas
Lackland AFB,Texas
Ft. Huachuca, Arizona
FT.HOOD, TEXAS

I’ve called all of the places listed above ‘home’ at one time. Yes, they are military installations. Built and designed to conduct the business of war. Millions of men and women have been trained, educated, tested and sent off to the world at large to ensure that the principals of democracy and freedom are preserved from these installations.

While each of these installations contain the tools to wreak havoc and death- they also contain the components of any city in this country.

Commissaries (Grocery stores), PX or BX’s- ‘Post Exhange or Base Exchange’ (Department stores). There are Laundromats, dry cleaners, tailors, shoe repair and pharmacies. Libraries, movie theatres’, gas stations, sports facilities, hospitals. And there are schools- elementary through high school.

There are post offices, day care centers, chapels and churches of multiple religious denominations. Thrift stores, ‘corner stores’ that are akin to 7-11’s or AM-PM mini marts. Places to work on cars. Places to take classes in dancing or painting or music. Gyms to work out in. Dental clinics, legal aid offices. Garbage pick up, utility services- telephone,water, gas, sewer.

Fast food places, banks, restaurants, bars. I assume nowdays that cable TV service is available as well. There are counseling services- although many are loathe to avail themselves of those.

This fact is one of two reasons I’m writing this. Military culture is one of breaking down and building up. In that process, acknowledging that one might be depressed, or angry or frightened is not met with open arms. “Maintain the strain’ was the phrase used when I was a military spouse. It meant the service member took what came and just sucked it up and went on. The term ‘Post Traumatic Stress Disorder’ had not yet been coined, although looking back now, I saw evidence of it daily.

Only in recent times has the stigma of how military personnel deal with the horrors of combat been somewhat diminished.

The second reason I’m writing this is to share that these huge military installations are home to those stationed there. What happened at Ft.Hood on 5Nov is akin to someone opening fire at the farmers market downtown, or at the high school basketball game.

This tragedy is horrific on many levels- chief among them , in my opinion, is that it was committed against those who have voluntarily made a choice to actively defend our country. It’s one thing to be fired upon when on the field of battle. It’s another entirely to be fired upon in one’s home- supposedly a safe and secure environment.
Even more tragic is that it appears to have been perpetrated by one individual who not only chose to become a member of our military, but one who is schooled to provide comfort and treatment to those who defend and protect us all.
There is no question that those in the suspect’s profession bear the brunt of all the horror shared with them by their patients. It is entirely probable that at some point being the repository of said horror would reach a saturation point. I am not defending the alleged suspect, just stating that I can see there might be portions of the job to be difficult to process.
My intent here is not to parse the whys and wherefores of this incredibly complex situation, but to shine a light on the simple human perspective.